While cellphones have myriad benefits, including giving their users instant access to people and information, frequent use of cellphones can result in an adverse effect on social skills. Children and teenagers, for example, may be so used to communicating via cellphone that they aren't accustomed to in-person, real-life conversations.

Conversation

When people use cellphones to talk and exchange text messages, they get into the habit of doing so. Using a cellphone to converse can be easier than arranging to meet someone in person. However, a cellphone cannot replace in-person conversation, and a frequent phone or text message user may feel awkward when presented with a situation in which she has to exhibit social skills, such as a job interview.

Spelling and Grammar

According to a 2010 study by The Pew Center, the average American teenager sends more than 50 text messages a day. As a way of typing faster, many teenagers do not adhere to basic rules of spelling and grammar when sending text messages. Teens will often abbreviate words such as "too" with "2" and "you" with "u." Those who spell in this manner may struggle at school when they are asked to write an essay with proper spelling and grammar, as they have already developed poor writing habits.

Antisocial

A common concern to cellphones is that they make their users antisocial. It is common to see people at restaurants, movies and sporting events playing on their phones instead of enjoying the surroundings. People who have friends who are addicted to playing on their cellphones may become tired with them because of their antisocial tendencies. Eventually, the cellphone-addicted person may begin losing friends because his friends are annoyed with his habit of using his phone.

Patience

Using a cellphone to communicate gives the user nearly instant gratification. When someone sends a text message, she expects to receive an answer seconds later. If the recipient of the text doesn't respond instantly, the sender may be annoyed. Cellphones can reinforce impatient attitudes on their users, especially those who are young. If a frequent cellphone user asks a question to a colleague, for example, and the colleague doesn't answer right away, she may be annoyed because she's accustomed to instant answers.

About the Author

Toronto-based journalist William McCoy has been writing since 1997, specializing in topics such as sports, nutrition and health. He serves as the Studio's sports and recreation section expert. McCoy is a journalism graduate of Ryerson University.